Chocolate wars: Nestle loses bid to trademark KitKat shape

Nestle said Wednesday it is disappointed by the ruling and plans to appeal the decision.LONDON: Nestle has lost a long-running court battle to trademark the four-finger shape of its KitKatchocolate bar in Britain.

The food giant first tried to register the trademark in 2010, but the application was opposed by rival chocolate maker Cadbury U.K. Ltd.

The case was previously dismissed by other courts including the European Court of Justice. Britain's High Court on Wednesday upheld those decisions, ruling that the shape of a KitKat bar has not ``acquired a distinctive character'' enough to satisfy trademark requirements.

Nestle said Wednesday it is disappointed by the ruling and plans to appeal the decision.

It argues that the four-finger snack has been used in Britain for more than 80 years, is well-known to consumers and that its shape deserves to be protected in the UK.